Curtain support



June 2, 19371. R. R. BRucKNER 1,807,893

CURTAIN SUPPORT Filed Aug. '26. 1929 INVENTOR /I/lf ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES RICHARD R. BRUCKNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CURTAIN SUPPORT Application filed August 26, 1929. ,Serial No. 388,325.

This invention relates to improvements in curtain supports and the principal object is the provision of a device which includes supporting rails or tracks upon which curtain holding members or brackets are mounted so as to move with a minimum amount of-friction and with a minimum expenditure of power.

A further object of this invention includes an improvement in a supporting bracket for such a device.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be expressly understood that changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims withoutV digressing from my invention. In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a side view of an assembly constructed to embody my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view with parts in section and portions omitted to facilitate the disclosure.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section, taken through Figure 1.

25 Figure 4 is a side elevation of one form of bracket and supporting pulley.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the master brackets.

Figure 6 is a sideview of a modification showing a diiferent'form of tensioning means for the cable.

Referring now to the drawings, Vthe Vnumeral 1 designates a suitable elongated support which is shown in the form of a pipe means such as bolt 2 and spacing sleeves 3 for supporting the elongated track members.

4. These track members are of general rectangular shape in cross section, hollow and` 40 having a longitudinal slot or opening 5. ex-

which the roller members 9 of the support` ing brackets rest and run. It is to be noted` and which is provided at intervals with that the rails-terminate in' anedge 9 with which the rollers engageso as to provide minimum amount of frictional contact between the parts. .Y ,Y Y j These rollers 9 are rotatably mounted Yupon the horizontal axle 10, positioned in two side lugs 11 of the socket member 12 formed on the upper end of the bracket member 13. This bracket member is curved asshownto provide suilicient clearance for the roller member 9 and extends downwardly a sufficient distance to properly receivethe fastening means for the curtain, slot or'aperture 14 bein@ provided in the lower portion of said brac (et member for that purpose.

The master bracket member is'illustrated in Figure 5 and is practically a duplicate ofk bracket member 13 as far as the lugs 11 andY socket 12 are concerned. These parts are joined by a substantial body portion 16 profastening means. In order to limit the travel 7 of the master bracket members, stops 15 are provided at the inner ends of track members 4. These stops are shown as strips which ex'- tend across the slotror opening 5 in track members4. Y f 'Y .l

As shown in Figure 1, Iprovide a motor 20 which is suspended atone en d of thetrack members 4 and which forms a tensioning means for the cable 18. The motor 20 is mounted in a receptacle 21 which is provided with grooved or channeled guide shoes 22 which are adapted toV be mounted on and slide between guide bars 23 which are T shaped in cross section. The motor 2O is o eratively connected to the pulleys 24 y means of worm gears 25 and 26 and drum 27. Idler pulleys 24 are provided adjacent one pulley 24. The gear 26 and drum 27 are mounted 'on horizontal axle 28.` 4The cable 18 passes around drum 27 and pulleys 24. ItA is to be noted that the pulleys24 at the motor end of the device are mounted on a plate 24" which depends from and` is fastened to track member and are offset or displaced with respect to one another so as to prevent crowd fifi ing or bunching of the cable 18 on the drum 27. In order to stop the motor when the curtain has reached open or closed position, a limit switch 29 is provided having contacts 30. Gear 3l is mounted on axle 28 and meshes with gear 32 which drives the worm gear construction 33. A contact arm 34 is actuated by the worm gear construction.

In Figure 6 is shown a modified form of motor mounting. In this figure the motor 35 is mounted on a slidable casting which is provided with projections 36 received in slots 37 in track member 4. A spring 38 is mounted in track member 4 and tends to push the motor casting outwardly and so provides a tensioning means for cable 18.

Another means of tensioning the cable is to provide a weighted idler pulley. In order to do this it is necessary to provide two additional pulleys at right angles to idlers 24 but in the same horizontal plane and then hang a weighted pulley on the portion of cable between these two pulleys.

It is to be expressly understood that limit switch 29 may be used with any of the modiications described. Other means of stopping the curtain will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

It is obvio-us that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, etlicient in operation and practically adapted to various uses in connection with curtains. It is especially adapted for use in connection with theatrical curtains and so may be constructed to save considerable weight, serving admirably for that purpose.

What I claim is:

l. In a curtain supporting apparatus a bracket member having an elongated slot adapted to be connected to a curtain and having a socket at its upper end provided with side flanges and a ball member rotatably mounted between said side anges.

2. In a curtain supporting apparatus a bracket member having an elongated slot adapted to be connected to a curtain and having a-.socket at its upper end provided with side anges and a ball member rotatably mounted between said side flanges, said ball member being mounted upon a horizontal axle.

3. In an apparatus of the character described a track member of hollow construc-v vided With socket at one end and a ball member rotatably mounted in said socket and engaging said rails.

4. An apparatus of the character described a track member of hollow construction and rectangular in cross section having a longitudinal slot extending through the bottom side thereof, rails secured to said track member on each side of said slot, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets passing through said slot, each bracket being provided with socket at one end and a ball rotatably mounted in said socket and engaging said rails, said ball being mounted on a horizontal axle.

5. In an apparatus of the character described an elongated track member, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets movably mounted on said track member, a motor supported near one end of said track member, pulleys at one end of said track member, operating means between said motor and said pulleys including a worm drive and operating cords connecting said curtain supporting brackets and extending over said pulleys.,

6. An apparatus of the character described including an elongated supporting member, a plurality of track members closely associated with said sup-porting member and supported thereon, each track member having a plurality of rail members therein, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets having means for attachment toV a curtain, each bracket having a ball mounted upon a horizontal axle and running upon said rail members and means connecting said brackets for igiovement longitudinally of said rail memers.

7 An apparatus of the character described including an elongated track member, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets movably mounted on said track member, a motor supported near one end of said track member, pulleys at one end of said track member, operating means between said motor and said pulley including a worm drive, operating cords connecting Said curtain supporting brackets and extending over said pulleys and automatic means lfor maintaining said cords under tension.

8. An apparatus of the character described including an elongated track member, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets movably mounted on said track member, a motor supported near one end of said track member, pulleys at one end of said trackm'ember', operating means between said motor and said pulley including a worm drive, operating cords connecting said curtain ysupportin brackets and extending over said pulleys and means for resiliently and slidably mounting said motor so as to provide an automatic tensioning means for` said cords.

9. An apparatus of the character described,

including an elongated `track member, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets, each bracket being provided with a ball adapted to roll on said track member, a motor supported near one end of said track member, pulleys at one end of said track member, operating means between said motor and said pulleys including a Worm drive, operating cords connecting said curtain supporting brackets and extending over said pulleys and means for resiliently and slidably mounting said motor so as to provide an automatic tensioning means for said cords.

10. An apparatus of the character described, including an enlongated track member, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets, each bracket being provided with a ball adapted to roll on said track member, a motor supported near one end of said track member, pulleys at one end of said track member, operating means between said motor and said pulleys including a worm drive, operating cords connecting said curtain supporting brackets and extending over said pulleys and automatic means for maintaining said cords under tension.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a track member of hollow construction and rectangular in cross section, having a longitudinal slot extending through the bottom side thereof, rails secured to said track member on each side of said slot, a plurality 'of curtain supporting brackets passing through said slot, each bracket being provided with a slot at one end and a pulley member rotatably mounted in said slot and engaging the edges only of said rails so as to provide the minimum amount of friction and insure easy manipulation.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a bracket member of hollow construction and rectangular in cross section,

f having a longitudinal slot formed by bending the adjacent portions of said track member inwardly, rails on each side of said slot and secured to said track member by said bent portions, a plurality of curtain supporting brackets passing through said slot, each bracket being provided with a slot at one end, and a ball member rotatably mounted in said slot and engaging said rails.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of August, 1929.

RICHARD R. BRUCKNER. 

